Member Spotlight – April O’Brien

What is your favorite song?Right now it’s a toss up between Amen from For King & Country and My Blood from Twenty One Pilots. Those are the two songs that I find myself singing at random moments.

What is the last book you’ve read?I Want To Punch You In The Face But I Love Jesus-Sherri Lynn (Best book, EVER!)

What led you to a career in radio?I would often visit my brother when he was in college. When he was in class, I would hang out with his roommate who worked at the campus radio station. A few years later and I’m enrolling at the same college in the communications department. Plus, I like to talk and I’m good at it. I mean, I was voted class chatterbox for mock elections.

What advice would you give people new to the business?It’s funny because Imposter Syndrome has been such a hot button topic over the last few years. A few years ago I encountered newbies who felt they were entitled to the “glam and glitz” that they perceived to come along with the business. Now it’s polar opposite. When in the interview process for new hires, there are so many that come in broken. So my advice right now: be courageous. Have the courage to try things, to take risks, and even to fail. That’s where grace comes in and there’s a lot of it extended in our business.

Give a shoutout to someone who is making a difference in radio and what are they doing to make an impact?Hands down, shouts out to PAR. I was one of the ones who sat in on that video conference last week in regards to hurricane relief. I turned to my coworker who was sitting beside me and said, “This, this is what CMB is all about. This is what it was like the other week in Orlando.”

How do you refresh your creative energy at work?I watch a lot of You Tube videos, especially the ones with the professional Youtubers like Peter McKinnon, Mattie Haapoja, Casey Neistat, and the list goes on and on. To see a bunch of creatives doing their thing and them collaborating, it’s like a shot in the arm.

Amazon Echo or Google Home?Echo! Alexa play Yes FM! Lol.

What is your favorite part of your job?I love community. I love getting out in our listening area and having one on one time with our listeners. I also love networking with other ministries and organizations in our area.

Who is your favorite air personality not on your staff and why do you like them?Brant Hansen. I appreciate that he’s been super honest with his struggles. Also, being the mom of an Aspie, Brant is someone I look to as an example for my son. Plus, the dude’s studio was made to look like a TARDIS. Nerd girl right here.

What was your last non-industry job?That was a hot minute ago. A Mexican restaurant chain that no longer exists in Toledo called Chi-Chi’s. I was a hostess.

Tell me about a project or accomplishment that you consider to be the most significant in your career.About a year after I became program director (which was a major accomplishment in itself) I helped launch our new automation system.

Teach me something I don’t know in the next five minutes.Cayenne pepper, ginger, apple cider vinegar, and honey. 1/8 of a teaspoon of the first two, a TBS of the other two with a few TBS of water. Mix then ingest. Boom, clears the congestion right out of you. Lifesaver during those crazy Midwestern winters.